A Flemish flavour and a taste
for mussels (
moules )
characterize Lille's cuisine.
The main area for
cafes,
brasseries and
restaurants
is around place Rihour and along
rue de Béthune. Rue Royale has
a selection of fairly pricey but
generally very good ethnic
eateries, from Cambodian to
Japanese. The best general area
for cheap restaurants is the
student quarter along the Solférino
and rue Masséna.
Bar de la Cloche , 13
place du Théâtre. Excellent
small brasserie, serving twenty
different wines by the glass, in
a relaxed, casual atmosphere;
popular with the older set. Plats
60-80F/?9.15-12.20, cheeses and
cold meats 30-55F/?4.57-8.38.
Coq Hardi , 44 place Général-de-Gaulle.
In a prime position on the main
square, you can people-watch
whilst eating one of the salads
at 40-50F/?6.10-7.62 or
specialities of the region from
the 88F/?13.42 menu. Also open
for drinks outside of meal
times.
Flandre Liban , 125
rue des Postes. Excellent
Lebanese restaurant in a mainly
North African and Middle Eastern
quarter. Go for the mezze menu
at 95F/?14.48.
La Galetière , 4
place Louise-de-Bettignies (tel
03.20.54.89.92). Good-value crêperie
in the old town. If full or
closed, try the equally good Beaurepaire
II round the corner on place
Lion-d'Or. Closed Sun & Mon.
La Huîtrière , 3 rue
des Chats-Bossus (tel
03.20.55.43.41). A wonderful,
colourful shop tiled with
mosaics of seaside and rural
working scenes, which sells
everything from fish and seafood
- with huge lobsters alive in
their tanks - to chicken, meats
and wine. An expensive,
chandelier-hung restaurant at
the back specializes in fish and
seafood at 150-220F/?22.87-33.54
a dish; there's a staggering
600F/?91.47 menu, and a
260F/?39.64 one for lunch.
Closed Sun evening, hols &
July 22-Aug 23.
Aux Moules , 34 rue de
Béthune (tel 03.20.12.90.92).
The best place to eat mussels;
it's been serving them since
1930 in its Art Deco-style
interior. Nothing much costs
over 60F/?9, including the other
brasserie fare, and it's all
excellent value. Daily
noon-midnight.
Paul , place du Théâtre,
cnr rue Faidherbe (tel
03.20.78.20.78). Paul is
an institution in Lille and here
the boulangerie, pâtisserie and
salon de thé are all
under one roof. There are
various good breakfast menus
served throughout the day, but
the main reason to come here is
to taste the delights of the pâtisserie
in the salon de thé .
Daily 7am-7.30pm.
Piccolo Mondo , 2 rue
des Molfonds, off rue de Béthune.
Erratic service but Lille's best
pizza place. Also serves pasta
and offers several vegetarian
alternatives.
